ISS Astronauts Take Shelter After Russian Spacecraft Breaks Up in Orbit
Nine astronauts on the International Space Station sought shelter after a Russian satellite fragmented in orbit. Debris weighing 13,000 pounds was released, but the ISS remained safe as the cloud is expected to burn up harmlessly. LeoLabs monitors for further risks.
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Nine astronauts aboard the International Space Station sought shelter in their spacecraft as a precautionary measure after a non-operational Russian satellite, Resurs P1, fragmented in low Earth orbit. LeoLabs reported the breakup event, indicating that the satellite released fragments weighing about 13,000 pounds. The astronauts, currently aboard the ISS with three spacecraft docked, including a SpaceX Crew Dragon, Russian Soyuz capsule, and Boeing Starliner, took refuge until the debris cloud was deemed non-threatening. Fortunately, the debris is expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere without posing a significant risk to the space station. Despite the growing concern over space junk due to the increasing number of satellites and satellite fragments in orbit, the ISS has only sustained minor damage from debris in the past, with no reported injuries to astronauts. LeoLabs continues to monitor the debris cloud for potential threats to other satellites in higher orbits.
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